The Challenges Group

14/04/2026

The Ventures Lab, the impact-led ventures support part of the Challenges Group, is excited to have contributed to a new guide from Firstport: 'The entrepreneurs guide to social investment.'
The guide has been developed to help organisations navigate funding with greater clarity. It brings together insight on:
• how different funding options work
• how they connect
• how they fit at different stages of a journey
It’s shaped through collaboration across the ecosystem, including Social Investment Scotland, Good Finance, and us at The Ventures Lab.
We contributed to Section 3 'Investment Readiness: what it really means,' exploring how readiness develops over time, how to think about fit and timing, and how organisations can assess whether they’re in the right place to take on investment.

If you’re reflecting on your next steps and want to better understand what readiness looks like in practice, you can read the full guide to learn more.
www.firstport.org.uk/revenue-based-finance-guide/

Making sense of social investment can feel more complex. Grants, loans, revenue-based finance, different terms, different expectations, and often no clear place to start.

The entrepreneurs guide to social investment was created to help navigate that complexity. Inside the guide, you’ll find clear explanations of key terms,

how social investment works in practice
what investment readiness really means
the difference between grants and loans
how revenue based finance operates
how to navigate pathways through the wider ecosystem.

It’s been shaped alongside ecosystem co-creators including Social Investment Scotland, Good Finance, and The Ventures Lab, bringing together multiple perspectives to support better decisions.

If you’re exploring social investment, or simply want to better understand your options, you can read the guide and take the first step towards clearer, more informed decisions. Download the guide for free now at https://ow.ly/MB5U50YI915

Made in collaboration with Good Finance, Social Investment Scotland and The Challenges Group

25/03/2026

🚨 Deadline fast approaching!

Challenges Rwanda is recruiting for two key roles, and there’s still time to apply. If you’re committed to driving impact, building strong partnerships, and supporting enterprises to tackle global challenges, one of these positions may be a great fit.

Current vacancies:
- Business Development and Partnership Manager
Job spec: https://lnkd.in/ddzJCnjc
Apply here: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/tTN7z2qS

- Projects and Operations Manager
Job spec: https://lnkd.in/dyH8TGsN
Apply here: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/b4SnQVZl

Please note: applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Rwanda.

Closing date: Sunday, 29 March

19/03/2026

We’re excited to partner with SCVO to deliver a virtual Introduction to Project Management course this June.
Led by Anja Kirchoff from our Learning & Leadership Team, this two‑part online training is perfect for anyone new to project management or looking to build confidence with practical tools and real‑world examples. The course uses adapted Chartered Management Institute Level 5 content, tailored to Project Management tools and techniques.
• Session format: 2x 3-hour sessions, with plenty of time for discussion and questions
• Dates: 3 & 10 June, 10 am–1 pm
• These sessions are interactive, and participants will gain a certificate on completion
Sign up here: https://buff.ly/2QPqJ0f

08/03/2026

Across our programmes, women are leading significant change—creating green jobs, improving access to nutritious food, strengthening gender equality in emergencies, and building sustainable enterprises that support families and communities. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the women whose leadership demonstrates that when investment in women is sustained, entire systems become stronger and more resilient. Explore their stories and discover why giving—through resources, opportunities, and visibility—benefits everyone.
Read more: https://www.thechallengesgroup.com/news/investing-in-women-benefits-all.

Happy International Women's Day!

Wastemat Zambia Limited | Edible Treats International | Farm Reap | Challenges Uganda

26/02/2026

We’re excited to share the Challenges Uganda 2025 Impact Report — a look back at a year shaped by listening, learning, and working closely with entrepreneurs across Uganda.

From Anyim Maber, 10X, RISE/E, NSSF Hi Innovator, iKnowFarm, to ACE Delivers, our team supported women and men, young people, refugees, and persons with disabilities to strengthen financial management, access finance, build resilience, and grow sustainably in fast‑changing markets.

2025 was also a year of strengthening the wider ecosystem. Our team worked hand‑in‑hand with financial institutions, policymakers, and other ecosystem actors to break down barriers and co‑create more inclusive financial products, policies, and support systems — helping entrepreneurs not just survive, but truly thrive.

A heartfelt thank you to the entrepreneurs who trust us, the partners and funders who collaborate with us, and the ecosystem actors who walk alongside us. Your support makes this work possible.

And to the Challenges Uganda team — your dedication, professionalism, and perseverance are at the heart of every impact story in this report.

📘 Download the Challenges Uganda 2025 Impact Report: https://www.thechallengesgroup.com/case-studies/challenges-uganda-2025impactreport.

25/02/2026

We’ve got something exciting to share from The Ventures Lab by Challenges Group.
We’re looking for partners to join us on a new AHRC Proof of Concept grant – a chance to test fresh ideas, try new approaches and explore creative solutions to real-world challenges.
If you’re working on something innovative and want support to shape, strengthen, or scale it, this could be a great fit. We love rolling up our sleeves and helping organisations turn early ideas into practical impact.

Curious? Have a look and get in touch if you’d like to chat:
https://www.theventureslab.com/partner-with-us-on-an-ahrc-proof-of-concept-grant.

05/02/2026

We’re seeking innovative partners to collaborate with on high‑impact, inclusive energy solutions for Energy Catalyst Round 11.

We’re engaging organisations through two routes:

1. Innovator‑led proposals
For UK and globally‑based technology innovators with aligned solutions.
We provide project scoping, application development, commercial advisory and support in identifying in‑country partners.

2. Challenge‑led consortium building
We’re working with corporates, SMEs, utilities and institutions in ODA‑eligible countries to define high‑priority innovation challenges.

These challenges will shape demand‑led consortium bids that bring together UK and in‑country actors to co‑develop impactful, locally appropriate solutions.
Energy Catalyst offers up to £7m across early, mid and late‑stage funding.

For more information, contact our Business Development Manager, Ross, at [email protected] or visit https://buff.ly/X9Ept61

23/01/2026

Did you know that 1 in 4 children in Scotland (around 240,000) are living in poverty?

Employment is one of the most powerful tools we have to change that. But for many mothers, returning to work isn’t simple. That’s why we’re expanding our Making Work Work programme to reach even more mums across Scotland.

In partnership with the Scottish Government, our new initiative, Making Work Work: Fair & Flexible Futures for Scottish Mums, helps mothers re-enter the workforce or advance their careers, with practical, empowering, and tailored support for real life.

If you’re a mum wondering whether this could be your year, we’d love to support your journey.

👉 Learn more and apply: https://www.makingworkwork.scot/fairflexiblefutures.

19/01/2026

This week, our project and business development manager, Cerina Wheatland, joins conservation and development leaders at the Conservation Livelihoods Conference, organised by Jersey Overseas Aid and Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. This event focuses on integrating biodiversity conservation, climate action, and rural development worldwide.
We look forward to her insights as we strengthen support for sustainable, purpose-led founders making a local and global impact.

ID: Two hands holding a pile of small brown beans over a woven sack. Text on the image reads: ‘Biodiversity & Livelihoods – A Shared Investment in the Future, 22nd & 23rd January 2026, Cambridge, UK.’ The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust logo appears on the left and the Jersey Overseas Aid logo on the right